Samsung not only makes smartphones but also the networking equipment to which the phones latch on. In fact, it is one of the biggest telecommunications equipment manufacturers in the world. Today, the company announced it would start making 4G and 5G telecom networking gear in India.
According to Economic Times, the South Korean firm is planning to invest INR 400 crore ($49 million) in its manufacturing facility in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, to make 4G and 5G telecommunications infrastructure equipment. This is the first time Samsung has invested in manufacturing networking equipment in India. Samsung Networks will now join Ericsson and Nokia in local manufacturing in India.
The company already has one of its largest smartphone factories in the world in Gurugram, India. The company also makes TVs and has plans to make OLED panels for smartphones in the country. With this investment, the South Korean firm can apply for India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which offers incentives ranging from 4% to 7% to encourage local electronics manufacturing.
Samsung has already received the Indian government's (National Security Council Secretariat) approval as a trusted source of telecom equipment. This stamp of approval is required in India before any company makes telecom equipment in the country. Samsung Networks has already received orders from two biggest telecom operators in India: Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.
